Richardson



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H.. B. RICHARDSON.

. LOCK. No. 605,342. Ptnted June 7, 1898.

(N o Model.)

-Hl B' RICHARDSON. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

LOCK.

Patentedune 7,1898.

IIIHIIIIIIIIIIU -MMM k i NITRD; STATES HENRY RICHARDSON, OFKEY'IRsvILLE, MIssOURI.

ysrncrrrcn'rIoN `forming part of Ltter patent No. 695,342, dated June 7,1898.

Applicatie ned Maan s, 1897.

following is a complete speciiicatiomreference Y being had to theaccompanying drawings. Y

The object of the invention is to produce a springless lock providedwith a latch-bolt and lock-bolt and mechanism for controlling themovements of said bolts, comprising a number of elements so constructedand arranged that the entire "assemblage of parts within the lock-casingare interdependent and positively cooperative at all times and in suchactual positive contact as Will prevent independent movement of any partor elementwhich would serve `to create a rattle or vibration of any partor parts Without the employment of spri1igs,which'a1eordinarily'employed to prevent lost motion and without which theaccomplishment'of the above-stated object has heretofore beenimpossible. To the accomplishment of this and other Objects theinvention consists in mounting Within a suitable casing alatch-bolt-actuating counterweight pivoted at its upper forward corneradjacent to the upper front edge of the casing, and to which is pivotedat a point comparatively near the pivotal point of the counterweight alatchbolt. The counterweight is extended Vrearwardly adjacent to therear end of the casing, and its rear end at the farthest possible pointfrom the fulcrum is in positive actual engagement with a lug orprojectionlocated adjacent to the pivot of a forwardly-extendingtumbler,wlIich latter operates to do'g the lockbolt and is incapable ofany movement whatever independent of the latch-bolt-actuatingcounterweight. i

The invention consists, further, in the provision of a knobspindlelocated unobstructively in the path of the counterweight and providedwith mechanism which cooperates with mechanism carried by thecounterweight to actuate the latch-bolt, and,\further, in the provisionof a detent so located that when in the locking position it will firmlywedge the rear end O r tailpiece of thecounterweight in position tofirmly retain the tumbler between the counterweight and the bottom wallof the casing. Every element within the casing sena No. 62ans. (No man.)

u when the look is in this position is absolutely interlocking andimmovable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of mypreferred form of lockwith the side plate removed, the parts being shownin the locked position. Fig. IIis asimilar'view showing both boltsretracted or in the unlocked position. Fig. III is a view similar toFig. I, with the lock-bolt removed, showing in full lines the positionofthe parts illustrated in Fig. I, and in dotted lines the tumbler liftedby the key-wing. Fig. IV is a view of the inside of the case with theloclingmechanism removedf Fig. V is an inside view of the side plate ofthe lock detached. Fig. VI is a perspective'view of the latch-bolt andlatch-bolt counterweight detached, the p arts being shown in therelative positions which they occupy in Fig. I. Fig. VII is an insideperspective viewof the latch-bolt-actuating lever detached. Fig. VIII isa similaryiew of the lock-bolt detached. Fig. IX is a section on theline IX IX of Fig. I.

Referring to the iigures on the drawings, l indicates a lock-case of anysuitable shape secured, as usual, to a face-plate 2. The case isprovided With the usual removable side plate 3, adapted to be secured inplace,' as by means of a screw 4, that enters an internallyscrew-threaded aperture in the end of apost 5, projecting from theinterior of the case l.

Within .the case I provideA a cylindrical stud 7, which may be castintegral With the case and which, as illustrated, is located ad jacentto the upper corner of the case near the face-plate. the latch-boltcounterweight 8, that is pro vided With a stud 9, lto which is movablyand detachably secured the latch-bolt 10.. The latch-bolt counterweightis in general contour of the shape of a trapezium, at 'the two cornersof which, respectively, are located'the studs? and 9. The shape ofcontouradopted for the latch-bolt counterweight is designed to secure toit sufficient weight, as Well as sufcient swing upon the stud 7, toenable it, through the movement of its stud 9,to properly project andretractthe latch-bolt, it being limited in its retractive movement toengagementwith the side wall of the case-as shown in Fig. II, forinstance-and in its projective movement by impingement against the postFrom the stud 7 is 'suspended IOC - for the reception of the post.

5. A recess 11 is provided in its lower wall end the counterweight ispreferably provided with a preferably upwardly-opening recess 13, whichmay be slightly curved and concentric with the stud 7. The recess 13 isdesigned to accommodate with a minimum diminution of weight aspindle-hub 14, of ordinary construction, that is movably secured in theusual manner in bearing-apertures 15 in the side plates of thc case. Itis provided upon one' side with an arm 16, that carries upon one side apair of bearing-pins 17 and 18, the one being preferably in line withthe longitudinal axis of the arm and the other to one side thereof. 18respectively bear alternately against oppositely-disposed bearing-faces19 and 2O of oppositely-extending projections 21 and 22 Toward its freeAThe bearing-pins 17 and upon the counterweight 8. A recess 24 ispreferably 4provided in the counterweight to define the projection 22 init and to permit free movement of the bearing-pin 18 against thebearing-face 20.

The arm 16 extends above i the stud 7 between the counterweight 8 and fthe side plate 3 of the case and at the same Q time operates thecounterweight and holds;

it in place lupon its stud.

Through the employment of the mechanism Q above described thecounterweight may be swung upon its pivot 7, so as to retract thelatch-bolt by rotatory movement in either (li-,y rection imparted to thespindle-hub 14 in the usual manner.

in which it swings.

25 indicates a lock-bolt provided with ag suitable tailpiece 26, withinwhich the key- 1 wing sweeps when inserted through the key- Thetailpiece terminates in a limitthe rearward movement of the bolt andwhich is provided on its inner side with a groove 29, that receives arib 30, projecting inwardly from the side wall of the case. of the ribwith the walls of the groove serves Engagement l to accurately guide themovements of the bolt' under the impulse of its key.

31 indicates a pivot-pin projecting from the I side wall .of the ease,upon which is mounted the tumbler 32. As illustrated, the pivot-pin 31is located near the end of the case farther from the face-plate; but itmay be otherwise 4 disposed, its object being to bring the movableytumbler Within operative relations with the It is obvious that therelative locations of the dog and gatings may be varied, it being Iprefer the dog upon the tumbler and the lgatings in the lock-bolt,because they are adapted to perform both offices of detaining orclogging a bolt and fixing the degree of movement of the tumblernecessary to release the bolt.

As above stated, the free end of the tumbler is provided with aponderable hea'd.` The head is designed to operate by gravity to compelthe dog 34 upon the tumbler to enter the gatings provided in the bolt.

Vithin the limits of size imposed in ordinary locks it may be foundimpracticable in locks of certain sizes to make the tumbler sufficientlyheavy to perform its office with accuracy and certainty. I thereforeprovide means for operatively connecting the tumbler with the latch-boltcounterweight and withoutimpairin g the mutual independence of thelatch-bolt and lock-bolt. The means employed for accomplishing thisobject as illustrated in the drawings consists of a lug 3G g upon theupper side of the tumbler that engages with the lower edge 37 vof thecounterweight. The parts referred to are so proportioned that when thecounterweight is in its normal posi-tion, as shown in Fig. l, the lug 3Gand the face 37 are in contact, the tumbler i therein being at rest andat the limit of its downward movement. If now the key is inserted forthe purpose of retracting the lockbolt, its wing is turned against thetumbler,

which raises the free end of the tumbler and through engagement of thelug 3G with the face 37 slightly raises the counterweight 8. Thecounterweight continues to press against the tumbler, urging it in thedownward direction, until by the continued movement of the key thelocksbolt is retracted and the keywing sweeps beyond engagement with thetumbler. Thereupon the tumbler, yielding to the impulse of its ownweight, combined with that of the counterweight, descends to its limitof downward movement, the dog at the same time entering a gating 35 andsecuring the lock-bolt.

The employment of the lug 3G, in constant contact with the counterweight8, insures operative connection between the counterweight and thetumbler 32 without the excessive frictional resistance to movement ofthe tumbler which would be occasioned by a more extensive contactbetween those parts.

`Heretofore where lock-bolt tumblers have been arranged in operativerelation with a latch-bolt counterweight stop mechanism has beenprovided for limiting the movement of the counterweightin the directionof the tumbler, so that the counterweight is located at a point where itwill be in contact with the upwardly-moving tumbler only at the upperICO IIO

ated.

limit of the tumblers movement. The initial movement of the tumbler hasalways been independent of the counterweight, which construction permitsof considerable vibration of the tumbler between the lower limit of itsmovement and the point at which it contacts with the tumbler. vThisfeature, which is a `very objectionable one in sprin'gless locks,

where the movement and vibration of the parts are not prevented by theimposition of springs or the like, has heretofore been essential,inasmuch as the positive engagement between the tumbler andcounterweight would cause a considerable movement of the latter andwould retract the latch-bolt to a considerable extent whenever thelock-bolt is actult will be observed that by reason of the structuralpeculiarities of my lock the movements of the latch-bolt and lock-boltare entirely independent, and the actuation of the lock-bolt tumbler,while constantly and positively controlled at all times by thecounterweight, does not actnate the latch-bolt to any appreciableextent. vThe reason forl this is that the counterweight and tumbler aredisposed oppositely with respect to their pivots, the pivotal point ofone being adjacent to the free extremity of the other. The connectionbetween these parts is made at the free extremity of the counterweightand adjacent to the pivot of the tumbler, the actual contacting surfacesbeing restricted to a frictional minimum by the employment of a pointedlug 30, located adjacent to the pivot of the tumbler and contacting withthe free extremity or tailpiece of the counterweight, It will be notedthat the latch-bolt is pivoted to the counterweight at a' pointcomparatively adjacent to the latter, and this peculiar relativearrangement of the pivotal connections of the parts and the location ofthe contacting surfaces of the tumbler and counterweight, as specified,permits the front end of the tumbler to be moved through a considerableare, but the lug 3G being located adjacent to the pivot 31 itsmovementis comparatively slight. This slight movementis imparted to thecounterweight at its extreme free end, where its movement is greatest,and as the pivot of the latch-bolt describes an arc of less than halfthe radius of the arc described by the free end of the counterweight thelongitudinal movement of the latch-bolt when the" tumbler is elevated isinfinitesimal, or,on the scale shown in the drawings, is actually aboutone sixtyfourth of an inch to the one-fourth inch movement of the frontend of the tumbler. Thus the weight of the counterweight 4is alwaysimposed upon the tumbler to prevent its material displacement and toabsolutely eliminate all vibration, and the latch-bolt is unaffected bythe movement of the tumbler preparatory to retracting the lock-bolt.

The'latch-bolt is preferably guided in its reciprocal movement byopposite recesses 38 in the two side walls of the case. Similar recesses39 may also be provided for the head ofthe lock-bolt, if desired. Thelatch-bolt is held in position upon its pivot-pin 9, as 4by a stud 40 onthe side plate 3 of the case. The stud 4() serves at the same time tohold the counterweight 8 upon its pivot-stud 7. A retaining-lug 41 uponthe side plate serves to confine the lock-bolt in its reciprocalmovement against lateral displacement.

In addition to the mechanism above described I prefer to providedead-latch mechanism, which may consist of any suitable device forpreventing, when in play, the movement of the latch-bolt-actuatingmember.

Such mechanism may be applied to any partV of the latch-bolt-actuatingmember that may be desired. As illustrated, however, it consists of aswinging pin 42, longitudinally fixed in bearings 43 in the case andprojecting through the case to affordV means for operating it, beingprovided on the outside of the case with a head 44 for that purpose. Thepin 42 may be provided with a 'wing or detent 45, which by the swingingmovement of the pin may be swung into or out of the path of movement ofthe bolt-actuating member. Vhen swung into the path of that member,

it prevents its movement upon its pivot-stud 7; but when swung to o neside it permits its free movement in the manner previously described. l

By reference to Figs. I and III of the drawings it will be noted thatwhen the detent 45 is thrown into engagement with the counterweight thetumbler 32 is in contact with the lower wall of the casing and is heldpositively in this its lowermos-t position by actual positive contactwith the counterweight, which in turn is held securely and againstvibration by the detent, and, further, that the lugs 17 and 18, opposedto the faces 19 and 20, will prevent any movement of the arm 16, whichin turn will dog the spindle 14, and the latchbolt being secured to thecounterweight and the lock-bolt being doggedby the tumbler every elementwithin the lock-casing is held positively against the slightest movementwithout the employment of springs or equivalent mechanism.

In a lock, the combination with a casing, of a counterweight pivoted atits upper forward corner within the upper forward corner of the casingand extending rearwardly adjacent to the rear wall of the casing, alatchbolt pivotally secured to the lower forward corner of theconntcrweight, counterweight- IOO IIO

actuating mechanism having positive connection with said counterweight,a lock-bolt, a

tumbler pivoted at its rear extremity ad j a cent to the rear wall ofthe casing and operatively connected with the lock-bolt, said tumblerbeing limited in its downward move- `ment by contacting with the lowerwall of the casing, an upwardly extending projection l upon the tumbleradjacent `to its pivot and i in positive Contact With the extreme rearend tively against movement, vibrational or otho'f the eounterweightWhen the tumbler is in erwise, substantially as specified. lo its lowestposition, and zt detent designed to In testimony of all which I havehereunto look the Counterweght in position to confine subscribed myname.

5 the tumbler immovably between said coun- HENRY B. RICHARDSON.

terweight and the lower Wall of the casing Vitnesses: whereby the entireassemblage of operative JOSEPH L. ATKINs, parts Within the easing may belocked posi- CHAs. C. HAMMOND.

